The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin

The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin We are working to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends - in Wisconsin! Check out www.nature.org/wisconsin for more stories.
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Conservation starts with people who care. In 1960, a small group of people came together in Wisconsin to protect the places in nature they loved and that they saw disappearing. They formed the Wisconsin chapter of The Nature Conservancy and volunteered their time, energy and talents to protect these special places. Today a team of dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters continue the work these women and men began to protect the lands and waters in Wisconsin we love and depend on for life.

06/21/2026

Summer has officially arrived. 🌞

Today on the Summer Solstice, we bask in the longest period of sunlight out of any day of the year here in the Midwest.

What kind of fun in the sun will you have today? 😎

What if one of the most important ecosystems in America was hiding in plain sight throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest? ...
06/19/2026

What if one of the most important ecosystems in America was hiding in plain sight throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest?

Grasslands stretch across the Heartland, supporting wildlife 🐦, storing carbon 🌎, and sustaining rural communities. Yet the grasses that define them are often overlooked—outshined by colorful wildflowers 🌼 and towering trees 🌳.

But native grasses are true ecosystem champions, providing food and shelter while quietly holding the landscape together from below.

For example, these native grasses have root systems that grow deep—often deeper than the plants are tall—and spread wide through dense, fibrous networks. These roots hold the soil together, helping prevent erosion while storing significant amounts of carbon. They also make grasses (and the landscape) incredibly resilient, able to withstand drought, fire 🔥, and harsh Midwest conditions.

Grasslands may not always grab our attention—but they deserve it. This Grasslands Week, help us protect what remains and celebrate these unsung heroes. It’s time to go out and touch some grass 🌱.

From fishing to farms, nature's impact on Wisconsin's economy is probably bigger than you think. 🌳💵 Whether it’s agricul...
06/18/2026

From fishing to farms, nature's impact on Wisconsin's economy is probably bigger than you think. 🌳💵

Whether it’s agriculture, transportation, tourism or another outdoor industry, nature generates billions (with a B!) in economic activity – and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the Midwest. And when we invest in our natural areas, we can support these jobs, lower infrastructure costs and protect the natural systems that industries and families rely on every day.

Learn more about how nature underpins our prosperity in the Midwest. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/midwest/stories-in-the-midwest/midwest-nature-economy/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

06/12/2026

Summer road trip season is here, and we've plotted the perfect course packed with awe-inspiring nature destinations across the Midwest. ☀️🚗

Whether you want to hike, birdwatch, or simply unplug, TNC’s nature preserves make an excellent excuse for a road trip any time of the year. So, pack your bags and head out to experience some of the most breathtaking and often overlooked natural landscapes in the region—all places we’re working hard to protect.

Check out 10 of our must-visit preserves in Wisconsin and across the region to add to your next road trip itinerary 🗺️ https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/midwest/stories-in-the-midwest/roadtrip/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

Birding brings in the big bills — literally and figuratively. 🦢💸 If birding was like the NCAA basketball tournament, the...
06/11/2026

Birding brings in the big bills — literally and figuratively. 🦢💸 If birding was like the NCAA basketball tournament, the Midwest would definitely be in the Final Four. The Midwest is a travel route for nearly half the bird species in the country, including 40% of shorebirds and waterfowl. For birders—who spent $107.6 billion across the U.S. in 2022, supporting 1.4 million jobs—the Great Lakes are courtside seats.

Last month, spring migration madness was in full swing with hundreds of species making the journey from their winter homes in South and Central America to their breeding grounds throughout the Great Lakes region and Canada. Migration season draws thousands of birders to public natural areas across the Midwest, including our TNC preserves, which bolsters local economies as visitors patronize nearby shops, restaurants and hotels. They not only strike gold with their birding lists, but they also contribute to the greater U.S. outdoor recreation economy, which generates $82 billion every year.

Fly into more information about how nature strengthens communities and economies across the Midwest. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/midwest/stories-in-the-midwest/midwest-nature-economy/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

06/09/2026

Recently, TNC and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources co-hosted a field trip for members of the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin in the Central Sands focused on work to restore habitat for the state endangered Kirtland's warbler. They toured an area that included a visit to private land where we heard the birds before heading to TNC's Kirtland's warbler restoration site to learn about TNC's efforts to expand breeding habitat by creating openings and planting new jack pine seedlings. Participants also got to learn about the history of the species and learn about their life history.

We're excited to share these ongoing efforts with neighbors and the world!

Learn more about our work in the Central Sands: https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/central-sands-priority-area/?en_txn1=s_fbo.reg_mw.x.x

(Video by Kevin Sink)

On National Prairie Day🌾, we’re celebrating the plants and pollinators that keep Wisconsin thriving. 🦋 💚 Often overlook...
06/06/2026

On National Prairie Day🌾, we’re celebrating the plants and pollinators that keep Wisconsin thriving. 🦋 💚

Often overlooked and underrated as pollinators, many wasps are pollinating powerhouses. In fact, the blue-winged wasp is a prairie superhero. Not only do they drink nectar and spread pollen, but the females hunt beetle grubs that eat plant roots to feed their larvae!

Often overlooked and underrated as pollinators, many wasps are pollinating powerhouses. In fact, the blue-winged wasp is a prairie superhero. Not only do they drink nectar and spread pollen, but the females hunt beetle grubs that eat plant roots to feed their larvae! ie’s version of a bustling community center.

(Bonus goldenrod fact: Because they bloom in the late summer and fall, goldenrod is often blamed for allergies because it's so visible. But goldenrod produces large, heavy pollen that must be spread by pollinators because it's too big to float in the air. Less showy ragweed, however, blooms at the same time and uses air currents to spread its pollen, making it the likely culprit causing all the itchy eyes and stuffy, sneezy noses.)

🌻 Here’s to the wings, wildflowers, and the blooming prairies that make our state buzz. 🐝

06/05/2026

As much as we love showing off footage of our intrepid crews putting prescribed fire on the ground, it's at least--if not even more--rewarding to show off the results of those burns! Check out the regreening and flowering at TNC's Spring Green Preserve, 10 weeks after the fire.

Director of Land Management, Hannah Spaul, noted that this was "the most prolific show of hoary puccoon" she's ever seen (and she's seen a lot!). Those are the yellow flowers you see here, alongside red columbine.

"In the videos I can hear Robin, Crow, Tennessee Warbler, Orchard Oriole, Eastern Meadowlark, Field Sparrow, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Red-Bellied Woodpecker and Eastern Kingbird, which ain’t bad for a 30 second clip!" Hannah added. "The burn unit was just hopping with sound and movement." This video was taken on the area right were the landscape transitions from prairie to barrens to woodlands, so you can really see the diversity of both grassland and woodland species in one location.

"We know the science tells us that habitat like we have a Spring Green is fire dependent, but it’s always so rewarding to see and hear the benefits directly on the ground on a rainy afternoon." 🔥🌳🌻🐦

The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin is deeply disappointed that a bipartisan agreement to extend funding to the Knowles-...
06/03/2026

The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin is deeply disappointed that a bipartisan agreement to extend funding to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program could not be reached before the June 30, 2026, deadline. Letting funding for this program lapse puts the land, waters and outdoor traditions that define our state at risk.

For more than 30 years, the bipartisan Stewardship Program has conserved hundreds of thousands of acres of Wisconsin’s wild spaces; protected critical watersheds and wildlife habitat, and expanded public access to the outdoors — strengthening our communities and local economies. Statewide polling commissioned by The Nature Conservancy shows an extraordinary 93% of Wisconsin voters support continued public funding for conservation through Knowles-Nelson — support that has remained above 90% for a decade.

We will continue working with both Democratic and Republican legislators and the next governor to restore long-term, stable funding that reflects the clear will of Wisconsin voters and safeguards our state’s most treasured outdoor resources for generations to come.

(Photo by Chris Helzer)

Address

25 W. Main Street
Madison, WI
53703

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